Washington Commissioner Fines Insurance Professionals over Violations

Washington Insurance Commissioner Mike Kreidler recently took disciplinary action and issued fines totaling $3,650 against insurance companies, agents and a continuing education provider who violated state insurance regulations.

Janet Pack, Tacoma; fined $1,500

Pack reportedly sold an annuity to a consumer that was not suitable for the consumer’s needs, a violation of state law.

Mario Thomas Mathews, Tacoma; license revoked

Kreidler revoked Mathews’ insurance producer license in August 2016 for allegedly processing 32 fraudulent insurance policy endorsements, making false statements regarding 200 cars for which he lacked an insurable interest, and fraudulently adding 99 drivers under the age of 25 to policies and 98 additional residences occupied to policies. The total amount of these transactions was more than $129,000, which he paid on his credit card and then reversed. The insurance agency where he worked terminated his affiliation in January 2016.

Mathews appealed the revocation and demanded a hearing. The presiding officer upheld the order to revoke Mathews’ license.

Mutual of Enumclaw Insurance Co., Lake Oswego, Ore.; fined $1,000

Kreidler’s office received consumer complaints about the company’s timeliness in handling claims. The commissioner reviewed the company’s claim-handling processes and found 10 violations of the following laws: Notifying claimants within 15 business days whether claims had been accepted or denied; notifying claimants in writing when additional time was needed to process claims; notifying claimants every 30 days why the claims remained unresolved.

Lynn Christofferson, Rathdrum, Idaho; fined $400

Christofferson is a registered insurance continuing education provider. During an audit, the insurance commissioner found that Christofferson violated some rules about continuing education recordkeeping.

Western United Life Assurance Co., Spokane; fined $500

The company issued single-premium individual annuities with an interest rate that the insurance commissioner did not approve.

Jamie D. Allen, Gig Harbor; fined $250

Allen failed to disclose her criminal history on two separate producer license applications.

Aaron J. Rodriguez, Seattle; issued probationary license

Rodriguez disclosed on his insurance producer application that he was charged with a felony, and the charge will be dropped if he completes a two-year probation. Rodriguez can apply for a nonprobationary producer license once the charge has been dismissed.

Since 2001, Kreidler’s office has assessed $22 million in fines, which are deposited in the state’s general fund to pay for other state services.